What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Birthday Parties
Mission: Best birthday ever
Zip up a flight suit, grab your dog tags, and dive into a fully hosted birthday “mission”. From air & sea adventures for preschoolers to rescue and cadet challenges for older children. Our Programmes team runs the activities, the children get awesome photo moments (and party bags), and you can add catering through our café.
Book a birthday party
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
It is 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Our Victory exhibition, upstairs in the atrium, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
Learn More
Update
Overseas visitor charge
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
The charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $20 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
HE WAS born at Ohakea, he grew up on base at Wigram and spent his teenage years roaming at Shelly Bay in Wellington.
When it comes to RNZAF brat, young Perry Voyce has a lot of pedigree!
His dad, Squadron Leader Garth Voyce, was a physical training instructor (Physical Training Instructor) his whole career. He retired from the RNZAF but then returned as a civilian worker in Wellington.
Perry’s mum Dawn was also in the RNZAF but had to leave after marrying Garth and having three children.
Perry loved his life as an RNZAF kid. “Having a dad who was a PTI meant we could swim when we liked. I remember going to the movies at Wigram and having to stand for the national anthem.
“Shelly Bay was great, in fact the whole thing was great when you are a kid. Dad managed to get me a flight on a Dakota which was another highlight.’’
His mum has the best family flying story – she once hitched a ride in a de Havilland Mosquito.
Perry was back in Christchurch from his home on the Gold Coast to see the opening of the new Te Kaha Stadium.
Thanks for dropping by Perry!
#rnzaf #shellybay #wigram ... See MoreSee Less
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I remember well ya Dad at Wigram , and his team whose name escape me but man did they make us fit. I think one was a Cpl Mc Gyver then there was a mean as Sgt short arse. 😂😂😂
EJECT EJECT! On this day in 1957, the first successful ejection was made by a member of an RNZAF Squadron.
The aircraft concerned was an RAF De Havilland Venom WR282 being operated by No. 14 Squadron out of RAF Tengah, Singapore during the Malayan Emergency.
It was flown by Flight Lieutenant Mike Palmer on 29 April 1957. The unit history described what happened:
“The first flight was a low-level battle eight at max endurance with the two fours joining after 45 minutes flying. One pair was forced to return early, leaving the other two, Flt Lt Palmer and Fg Off Roud to continue the detail.
"While returning and within sight of Tengah at 1000ft experienced a flame-out which forced him to abandon his aircraft over the Straits of Johore. The ejection seat proved its worth, since he made a watery landing completely unscratched a few seconds later.
"The aircraft arrived with a large splash near a police launch which took successful evasive action and picked up the pilot…..Flt Lt Palmer arrived back at the Squadron during the afternoon looking little the worse for wear!”
The ejection was also the first to be undertaken by a member of the RAF’s Far East Air Force. Mike Palmer went on to become an Air Commodore and was awarded the CBE for his distinguished service in 1978. He served in the RNZAF until 1983 and passed away in 2002.
Between 1957 and 1993, 17 members of the RNZAF used ejection seats in emergencies.
📸 Two members of No. 3 Squadron, Territorial Air Force, in the cockpit of a Vampire at RNZAF Station Ohakea. Handwritten on the album page "Ohakea 1956" "Mike Palmer and 'Tubby' Calder." Original RNZAF negative number OhG5207-56. Iamge: ALB971531196
📸 No. 14 Squadron Venom WE438 at RAF Station Tengah. Image from the Frederick Barry Flavall personal collection. Image: 2017-106.92 ... See MoreSee Less
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Dave Homewood
YOU CAN'T PARK THERE MATE! De Havilland Tiger Moths had a reputation for being reasonably simple to fly, but parking was a different matter.
Back in 1952, Tiger NZ1492 found itself in a tight spot at RNZAF Station Wigram.
Happily, no one was hurt. Nevertheless, you can't park your Tiger Moth ther#tigermoth##youcantparktherematek#dehavillandehavilland ... See MoreSee Less
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Still in it's UK orientation, easy mistake to make by the riggers.
This way up mate